HUM 108

Alan Kurdi Photographer: Nilüfer Demir 2015     Loss of Innocence. Although the image is displayed in color, I simply do not view it in that sense. The reality of the world, reality of the desperate measures some must proceed to live in simple peace. This little boy and his family were fleeing from the ongoing war in Syria, seeking refuge simply for a better life. The waves seemed to carefully have placed this little boy on shore, as his poor little body lays still. “There was nothing left to do for him. There was nothing left to bring him back to life,”. So Demir raised her camera. "I thought, this is the only way I can express the scream of his silent body." Every time I see this photo, its like if I were seeing it for the first time. The way his lifeless bodies lays as the officer stands before him. Truly, one of the most depressing photographs I’ve seen. Ever. The silence of this photo really speaks for itself. It really does question our exi...

Being born or simply living in America does not necessarily make you free, as anywhere else in the world that is. We all have social norms that we all live by, certain cultures we follow, certain faiths and so on and so forth. Of course, we all view 'living' itself differently. I myself, believe part of me operates under bad faith. I mean, we all grow up thinking certain things are important enough to cherish or that being accepted by society itself is what life is all about. If I can imagine myself as an existential hero, living life by my own customs is something I’d go by. It just like growing up, the older you get the more you realize that things you thought were important don’t matter anymore. Like Wolverine, we must live life not caring for its details, establish your own goals. We shouldn’t live to please anyone besides yourself. Don’t get me wrong, as it is not a bad thing, I am just implementing that we must recognize the control we have. As Sartre insists, "We ...

music video: https://youtu.be/fzzMOMkjm8A lyrics: https://youtu.be/eCxaXqwRhvw J.cole- Crooked Smile This song truly is a deep work of art. Its connection to reality is the very true conception of the circumstances some live life under. The song really tells the story of those who may struggle and turn and make decisions to make the easiest way of life. In this case, it can be drugs, the war of drugs and what it brings and how one makes this their way of life selfishly. No matter what happiness it may bring, or what someone feels isn't as enough, we will never be satisfied. No matter the size of the smile, realize what you are doing before it goes beyond what is expected. I understand some have to do what they have to do to make it for a modern lifestyle, but we also have to understand the things that may come after. We never think of the price because it is already decided for you, but we always have the choice ...

"The End and the Beginning" by Wislawa Szymborska Wislawa has always expressed her dissatisfaction and brought a sort of personal style to her poetry. This poem is addressing the problems/things the people face after the war. "Someone has to push the rubble to the side of the road, so the corpse filled wagons can pass." "Someone has to get mired in scum and ashes." These people had to clean up the aftermath of the war. These victims of war had to deal with the destruction of their homes, the people they loved, and really, the end of all things they once cherished. With that being 'the end', 'the beginning" was the only hope to look forward too, as they began life from scratch. As she says, unfortunately "Things wont straighten themselves up." The sad thing was that these people weren't the ones at fault yet it was up to them for whatever came next. Although these people made it out alive, were they really? The way this wh...

"Psycho" by Alfred Hitchcock - ("The Famous Shower Scene")   https://youtu.be/0WtDmbr9xyY Psycho is a film in which some characters, in this case Marion steals money from her boss so she can bail out and marry her boyfriend Sam. Although she is a bad thief, as she get nervous and becomes more paranoid, she stops by a hotel and meets a guy named Norman and his mentally ill mother. In which then kills Marion as she showers. This film is so expressionistic because of its contrasting colors and emphasizes on the way it changed your way to look and feel about certain situations. Really things kept happening as one did not expect it happen. I feel that tis film is very important because a lot of the unpredictable happens. As life is, you are really just playing the game, however one wants, that is. This made me reflect that we don't ever expect bad things to happen to us, because we are so caught up in our own head, we don't see what's gong on around us...

"My Shadow" Although I did not describe 'my shadow' at all. Just seeing my thoughts written down, shows where I stand. Besides the gap of differences, I do acknowledge ‘my shadow’. I mean, sometimes it just may be about the one who has the 'biggest shadow' in the end. I would hate to be the bad guy. Any 'type of bad guy' that is. I say type because I've noticed how some find 'evil personas' on movies screens, and reality to completely differ from one another. As if we may or may not find evil characters as "iconic". In which, may just be the fact that they show and act upon who they really are. Or just because they look ‘cool’. Regardless, it really does explain why some people are so attracted to these on-screen bad guys. Some people simply wish to portray who they really are. And unfortunately, as we know it, it’s not always a good thing. So, the idea of everyone having their own shadow may not be a bad thing after all.